The Milwaukee Brewers ended up running away with the NL Central division in 2023, but now they're going to be without their best starting pitcher for at least the Wild Card round. On Monday, the Brewers learned that right-handed pitcher Brandon Woodruff will not be available against the Arizona Diamondbacks and may ultimately miss the entire postseason because of a shoulder injury.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell relayed the news ahead of Milwaukee's playoff series, while Woodruff later revealed that there were indeed signs of something being wrong with him at the end of September. Woodruff did not make his scheduled start in the final regular season series against the Chicago Cubs and instead threw a bullpen session in Milwaukee.
Via ESPN's Jesse Rogers.
Brandon Woodruff said there were some signs of an issue in recent starts but until playing catch yesterday, he thought he would be ok. Going for a second opinion: “Everything is up in the air.”
What makes that statement interesting from Woodruff is that the 30-year-old pitcher missed four months this season on the injured list because of inflammation in his right shoulder. Woodruff made two starts in April before he was shut down until Aug. 6.
In his seventh start back from the injured list, Woodruff was pitching a gem on Sept. 11, against the Miami Marlins, while the Brewers had a comfortable lead throughout, eventually winning 12-0. The Brewers had an 11-0 lead heading into the seventh inning and you would think the team would play it safe with one of their best, if not the best starter in their pitching staff, especially after already missing four months because of a shoulder injury. But no, the Brewers had Woodruff pitch a complete-game, going nine innings in a 12-0 blowout.
In his next start, Woodruff threw more than 100 pitches for the second straight game and then he only lasted five innings on Sept. 23, against the Marlins, in what may end up being his last appearance for the Brewers in 2023.
Via Adam McCalvy.
Brandon Woodruff says looking back, the velo drop in Miami was a red flag. He threw live BP going into the weekend and the ball came out well, but he didn't bounce back when he played catch yesterday. He alerted medical staff immediately.
It just seems like a terrible decision to let Woodruff go for a complete game in a blowout, especially when you factor in that he was returning from a serious shoulder injury that sidelined him for more than half the season. Now, the Brewers are in a best-of-three series without their ace.
Woodruff ended the 2023 season with a 2.28 ER in 11 starts, striking out 74 batters in 67 innings.
The Brewers will now go with Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta and most likely Wade Miley as their top-three starting pitchers to begin the postseason.
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